Since my election in 2015, I have been working very closely with both the Prisons Minister and the Secretary of State for Justice on the circumstances around the proposed release of convicted child killer Colin Pitchfork and the associated concerns relating to the risk he may still pose.

The crimes Pitchfork committed continue to cast a shadow over South Leicestershire and, understandably, are a matter of great concern for my constituents.

Mercury readers will have seen in the last few weeks further news relating to Pitchfork’s case, specifically concerning his parole hearing and the very welcome news that his request for release on Permanent License has been refused.

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With Pitchfork’s case in mind, and that of the recent John Worboys controversy, I have been working closely with the Justice Secretary David Gauke in looking at the implementation of new rules which will make both parole hearings and the parole process much more open and transparent.

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Colin Pitchfork

While in Pitchfork’s case the Parole Board made a decision earlier than planned, these new rules will provide much greater clarity for concerned members of the public across the country, and will ensure that the Parole Board’s decisions are scrutinised appropriately.

Matters of law and order and the judiciary are of course a central pillar of a modern democracy, and I am particularly pleased that the Government and the Ministry of Justice have recognised that greater public transparency in high-profile criminal cases often goes hand-in-hand with greater public safety and increased public confidence.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice have also announced a new consultation for the introduction of a reconsideration mechanism for Parole Board hearings.

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This, if introduced, will allow members of the public and the families of victims to ask for a reconsideration of the Board’s decision if they find the outcome to be fundamentally disagreeable.

Again, this very welcome proposed step from the Government toward greater engagement and greater transparency will spare victim’s families the onerous and costly task of a judicial process and will ultimately establish a more open and fair justice system for all.

I will continue to champion greater transparency in the parole process and campaign to ensure that the Parole Board have all the necessary body of evidence when giving Pitchfork’s case further consideration in the future.